Multisite using subdomains – no images in additional sites

Ok, I’ve tried a number of potential solutions… none of them worked so I’m hoping someone can help! 🙁

I have a recent install of multisite – its working fine, I have 3 sites all with mapped domains (dont know if this is relevant?)

I can upload and use images in my original blog (set up before the multisite install) but I cannot use images in the two subsequent sites?

The images upload ok but the links do not work. I can see them using file manager on my server but they do not show on the subdomain sites.

I have tried uploading new headers and images through the media uploader and both add files to my server but are not usable in the sites themselves?

As the files ARE uploading I’m not sure what to do to actually be able to use them? I cannot use the fileURLs created by wordpress as these do not work… I’ve tried playin around with them and cannot access the files any other way other than through the file manager?

any help wouyld be greatly appreciated.

as it may be useful my htaccess is

# BEGIN WordPress
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]

# uploaded files
RewriteRule ^files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$1 [L]

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
RewriteRule ^ - [L]
RewriteRule . index.php [L]
# END WordPress

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